Smoke Eaters pub, 7681 Frankford Ave., in the Northeast, has invited police officers who will attend the funeral today for slain Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski to come by for a free open bar and buffet.

Call 215-338-1577 for information.

Shriners gets 150G grant

Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia has received a $150,000 grant from the Percival Roberts Jr. Trust.

The hospital said the money will be used to purchase a high-speed drill and cordless driver hand piece that are used in the operating room; ventilator systems for patients who have suffered a high level of spinal cord injury, and a Cell Saver, which uses a patient's own blood during surgery.

Man charged in bomb threats

Federal authorities charged a Delaware man yesterday with threatening to bomb two buildings owned by the Philadelphia-based chemical manufacturer, Rohm & Haas, in October 2007.

Authorities said that Frederick Fawra, 47, of New Castle, Del., also threatened to drive a tanker truck into Sunoco's Epsilon Oil Refinery in Marcus Hook to cause an explosion in November 2007.

Drum caused sunflower-oil spill

An improperly secured drum is being blamed for the spill of 500 gallons of sunflower oil on South Queen Street in Lancaster. Officials say the drum was in the back of a snack-foods truck when the spill occurred about

5 p.m. Wednesday.

Donna Jessup, of Lancaster City Operations, says that the heavy oil spilled over about a block and a half, forcing traffic down to one lane through the area for about four hours. Crews sanded down the road, soaking up most of the oil.

Improving foster-care system

Pennsylvania Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle B. Richman has announced that the state has been selected by the National Governors Association to participate in a multistate initiative aimed at safely reducing the number of children in foster care.

The NGA Center for Best Practices Policy Academy will offer Pennsylvania the opportunity to work with both national and state experts to improve outcomes for children involved in the child-welfare system. As a participant, Pennsylvania will develop a two-year strategic plan to reduce the number of children in foster care, while ensuring that safety remains paramount.

A.C.'s tallest building?

Plans for a new $2 billion casino at Atlantic City's south end are one step closer to reality now that the City Council has approved a redevelopment plan for the area. The council yesterday approved relocating several landmarks, including a World War I monument and a historic restaurant, to make way for the project. The Atlantic Beach Resort and Casino would include a 2,000-room hotel tower that would be the city's tallest building at 832 feet. *

- Staff and wire reports